Trap



sept. 15,1925.

1-1. MUEGGENBORG TRAP Filed Oct. 16, 1922 Patented Sept. 15, 1925.

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Application filed October 16, 1922. Sera1'-No. 594,919.`

ting the tripping mechanism each period,

and the door or lid may be employed for animal traps, garbage orwaste receptacles and such other cans or the like, as it may seem desirable to make use of the device.

Primarily the inventionis designe-d for use in connection with animal traps, while the uses to which the same may be put will appear as the matter is further and more definitely explained.

It is an object of the invention to produce a quick action cover or lid, operated at the instance of an automatic trip, and to perpetuate the operation in so far as the mechanism for so doing is kept operative for such service.

Other objects of the invention will appear from a further and more complete reading of the following specification and claims. On the drawing, accompanying and forming a part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved trap;

Figure 2 is a detailed perspective of the tripping mechanism, and

Figure 3 is an elevational sectional view of the motor used in connection with the invention.

Similar characters of reference indicate similar parts.

If the question of a trap is first to be considered, then the trap proper may be designated by 4, of a mesh character, bordered if desired by a shield 5, having a door 6, and a suitable latch 7.

Mounted upon the upper edge of this mesh structure 4 is a rim 8 to which a motor case 9 is attached, and bearings 10 are also applied.

Operating in these bearings is a shaft 11 applied to a door 12, which in Figure 1 is shown in partial tilted position.

To one end of one. of the shafts, a pinion 13 setsedend which is in, mesh with a gear 14 within the motor case 9, and from the shaftv 15- of the gear-14, a spring 16 is mounted toA aetuate the shaft 15 and the gear and pinien, and this spring is wound by a thumb-piece 17.

The shaft 1-1 is aflixed toi the lid or door 112L and the said shaft being under the in luence of the spring' and gears and pinion will cause it to revolve, so long as' the spring is under action. v

For the purpose of checking the top or lid 12 in a closing vor set" position, levers 1S, the ends of' which rest in notches 19' of the rirn S a-re provided, and these are actnated by' springs 20, as the same are mounted y in bearings 21. Thel reary end of eachlever 128 is bifurcat'ed at 22' toreceive the end 23 ef' a pivot'ed'platformA 24 that lra-s its bean i=`ngs25 in a housing 26E. This latch construction is placed on a line running through the diameter of the floor 12, so that the latches, two of them, will operate at and from the same point 19, each time the floor 12 makes a one half turn about the central shaft 1l. Gf course, naturally, in order to allow for this mechanical performance, the latches 18, the springs 20, the platform 24, the housing 26, in fact all that belongs to each latch, must be-one on one side of the floor at one end of the imaginary diametrical line, and the other, on the opposite side or the underside `of the floor 12 as can be seen very clearly by reference to Figure 1.

When the platform is pressed upon the end 23 recedes from the bifurcation 22 and the spring 20 draws the lever back and the top or door 12 iiops a half turn when the device is set again.

This operation may be repeated indelinitely as long as the motor is in operative position, which can be so maintained by occasional rewinding.

In large apartment houses, each floor is provided with a chute, and garbage and waste are dropped through it to a can below. It often happens that the health law is not complied with, in keeping the can covered, but this trapping arrangement may be used, so that when the weight of the droppings from the chute fall upon the platform or trigger 24 which may be properly shaped as a catch all, then the droppings may be allowed to fall into the can during the semirevolving of the lid, and the can tightly closed for the next oper-,ationl The several advantages of the inventicn asshovvn in the drawing, may be applied to a barrel, keg, or other specially arranged device. The device, properly arranged may also be formed into and used, when submerged as a sh trap.

The modus operandi is as follows:

The floor 12 is pivoted to turn over and over, a half turn at a time, When the latch 1S is released or the same retreats from the notch 19, this retreating or pulling back of the bolt or latch 18 being accomplished by pressure downward by the Weight of the rodent on platform 24, this resulting in a trigger-action release of the bolt 18 and, the lioor being under the action of the motor to Vbe Wound, at Will, by 17. One of these latch constructions is on one side of the flopping `floor 12, and the other is on the other side thereof, consequently When one latch-for instance to the left of Figure 1 or that shown in Figure 2 is tripped, it Will flop to the position shown to the right of Figure 1 While the one novv at the right of Figure 1 jumps to the position shown to the left of Figure 1 and that shown in Figure 2, and so on the repeating operation goes on as long as vthe rodents attack each platform 24, and as long as the spring action lasts.

Having thus described this invention, I claim: Y y The trap described, comprising a receptacle With a-base, a reticulated portion and a rim, a motor `supported by said rim, az

centrally-pivotedA door, means for revolving said door, a pivoted platform mounted diametrically on said door on opposed sides thereof, a lever mounted inrsaid rim, said lever being bifurcated to receive an end of said platform, said platform being mounted for depression to cause said end to recede from said bifurcation, and a spring acting to draw said lever from said bifurcation and allow the said door to .flop a half turn.

Signed at Oklahoma City, in the county and State of Oklahoma this 27th day of September, 1922.

HENRY MUEGGENBORG. 

